Israel has communicated serious security concerns
to the White House regarding a proposed disarmament deal with Hamas, according to Doron Spielman, the spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. The announcement follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s reveal of an agreement intended to end the nearly three-year-long conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Israel Expresses Security Concerns Over Trump-Brokered Deal
The Israeli government’s apprehension is rooted in intelligence assessments suggesting that Hamas remains committed to recruiting fighters, rearranging its military capabilities, and rebuilding its military rather than pursuing genuine demilitarization. Spielman stated that for Israel, disarmament must mean physically giving up the weapons. Nothing less
.
These developments coincide with ongoing military activity. Israeli strikes overnight and into Sunday evening, Aug. 2, 2026, killed at least 17 people in Gaza, including children.
Terms of the Disarmament Agreement
President Trump described the deal as a 20-point ceasefire plan to be executed in carefully structured phases
. According to the agreement, the plan includes the following components:
- Weapon Transfers: All weapons currently held by the Hamas-run police will be transferred to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a U.S.-backed Palestinian technocratic committee.
- Military Decommissioning: A process to dismantle military production sites and tunnels, as well as the decommissioning and storage of heavy weapons, will commence following the deployment of international forces and the arrival of the Palestinian committee.
- Israeli Withdrawal: The disarmament process is linked to a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave.
- Reconstruction: The plan envisions the rebuilding of the battered Palestinian enclave.
While Hamas recently stated it would begin disarming as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire signed nine months ago, the Gaza Board of Peace indicates Hamas will only agree to the disarmament plan if Israel withdraws from the territory.
Israeli Military and Political Stance
Israel currently controls more than 60% of Gaza territory. Spielman asserted that the Israeli military will not withdraw before Hamas is disarmed. He warned that redeploying prematurely would allow Hamas to rebuild its terrorist infrastructure, expand its presence throughout Gaza, and potentially execute another attack similar to the Oct. 7, 2023, assault.
Political pressures within Israel further complicate the deal’s implementation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a difficult reelection battle ahead of October elections. His far-right coalition partners are pressuring him to maintain military presence in Gaza and keep pressure on Hamas, while opponents continue to criticize him for failing to prevent the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.
Humanitarian Context and Conflict Toll
The conflict began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and taking 251 hostages. Israel’s subsequent military offensive has resulted in more than 73,000 deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry, formerly part of the dissolved Hamas-run government, provides records considered generally reliable by international organizations and U.N. agencies, noting that women and children comprise about half of the fatalities.
The humanitarian situation remains dire for Gaza’s 2 million Palestinians. While the areas under Israeli control are largely depopulated and destroyed, hundreds of thousands of residents in other parts of the territory continue to live in destroyed neighborhoods and squalid tent camps.
The White House did not provide additional comments on Sunday when asked about Israel’s assessment that Hamas is still rebuilding its military capabilities.
